Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Yoga / Hindu : Shaivite (Shiva) 12th Century	About Basava Timeline (1134 - 1196)
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English version by A. K. Ramanujan Original Language Kannada	The eating bowl is not one bronze
Commentary by Ivan M. Granger Themes   Light           Recommended Books Speaking of Siva, by A K Ramanujan The Yoga Tradition: Its History, Literature, Philosophy and Practice, by Georg Feuerstein	The eating bowl is not one bronze and the looking glass another.      Bowl and mirror are one metal      Giving back light      one becomes a mirror.           Aware, one is the Lord's;           unaware, a mere human.                Worship the lord without forgetting,                the lord of the meeting rivers.     -- from Speaking of Siva, by A K Ramanujan Amazon.com
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Commentary by Ivan M. Granger

I like the metaphor of this poem: both the eating bowl and the mirror are made of bronze. Mentally we label them as being different, but fundamentally they are the same substance, "one metal." Bronze, here represents God. All beings, all things are made of the same substance, though we mentally distinguish them by outer appearance. The only real difference between the eating bowl and the mirror is that the mirror has recognized its nature as being made of bronze. The nature of bronze when polished is to give back light and the mirror embodies this.

We are all constructed of the same God-stuff. When we become aware of our nature and polish ourselves we give back light and become a mirror.

Ivan M. Granger's original poetry, stories and commentaries are Copyright © 2002 - 2008 by Ivan M. Granger.
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